Sanctification

The standard for bearing fruit as we advance in sanctification is not perfection. Scripture tells us we will not walk in perfect holiness until we are glorified, and our need for perfection in order to stand before God unafraid is ...Read More

Today we speak of a comforter as one who comes to wipe our tears away and console us. While the Spirit does perform this work, that is not what we mean when we call Him our Comforter. Dr. R.C ...Read More

Christians make true progress in their fight against sin over the course of their Christian lives. Yet, we continue to discover new sins we never saw before until we die, and our sin-clouded minds need help in knowing the Lord’s ...Read More

The way to life is the way of death—death to sin and self. Only if we first die to sin can we be raised to new life and become new creatures in Christ. This happens decisively at conversion, but ...Read More

How is your personal walk with the Lord? Have you become calloused to the evils of sin manifest in you own life? Have you forgotten to spend time with Him? It is as we love Him more and more that ...Read More

The Apostle Paul’s teaching on our sanctification is ultimately a call to the
imitation of Christ (1 Cor. 11:1). Therefore, we should pay close attention to the
words and actions of Jesus if we want to understand what ...Read More

Today’s passage tells us that as we live a life that reflects the gospel, we not
only become the lights that we already are in Christ but also encourage those
who give the gospel to us. Our church leaders ...Read More

Since we are already lights to the world in Christ Jesus, we can, by His
Spirit, show forth the glory and goodness of God in line with the Father’s
plan. We will fail from time to time and need ...Read More

Augustine says that “[we] are to work with fear and trembling so that [we]
will not, by attributing the good working to [ourselves], be elated by the good
works as if they were [our] own” (ACCNT 8, p. 245). Even ...Read More

The ways of this fallen world influence us far more than we would ever want
to imagine. Therefore, it is absolutely critical that we keep ourselves immersed
in Scripture, seeking for God to transform our minds that we might see ...Read More

Today’s passage also tells us that evidence of the Spirit-filled life includes
being full of song and delight (Eph. 5:19). Matthew Henry comments: “Though
Christianity is an enemy to profane mirth, yet it encourages joy and gladness.
God ...Read More

Scripture is clear that sinless perfection is impossible in this life (1 John 1:8–9),
so we will never exhibit any of the fruit of the Spirit flawlessly on this side of
glory. Nevertheless, there is a difference between ...Read More

If our original purpose is to shine forth God’s image to creation, then the
importance of our obedience to His will takes on new significance. When our
goodness and mercy align with His standards, we reveal His pure character ...Read More

Taking off our old selves — our Adamic natures that love rebellion — and
putting on Christ is really a single act. We cannot live in Adam and in Christ
at the same time, which means that we cannot refuse to give ...Read More

John Calvin writes, “He whose life differs not from that of unbelievers, has
learned nothing of Christ; for the knowledge of Christ cannot be separated
from the mortification of the flesh.” Scripture never asserts that sinless
perfection is attainable before ...Read More